Chris Voss was born on November 28, 1957, in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. He attended Iowa State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree. Voss furthered his education at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, obtaining a Master of Public Administration.
Voss is a highly respected and experienced negotiator, with a 24-year career in the FBI. His expertise in negotiating skills has established him as one of the leading practitioners and teachers in this field. After retiring from the FBI, Voss founded The Black Swan Group, a consulting firm that offers training and guidance to Fortune 500 companies in complex negotiations.
As a professor, Voss has shared his knowledge with many business schools, including the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business, Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business, Harvard University, MIT's Sloan School of Management, and Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. His teaching experience has given him the opportunity to impact numerous students and professionals, further establishing his reputation in the industry.